Soul Care for the Battle by Susie Larson

About the Book:

Strength Training for Your Heart and Your Mind

Your battle is real; you're not imagining it. And what you believe--and how you care for your soul in the storm--determines how well you'll fight.

Designed to help you consistently care for your soul in the days ahead, this guided journal can be read alongside Strong in Battle or all on its own. As you prayerfully make your way through the insightful questions, prayer prompts, and blessings, you will begin to

· anchor yourself to the promises in God's Word
· inventory your thoughts and feelings
· find reasons for thanksgiving
· go deeper in your prayers
· and even make room for laughter

When the enemy attacks, your humble conversations with God can make all the difference. Give Him the final word in your battle.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

This is a good workbook for those going through difficult times. Larson created this book to help us think redemptively, find reasons for thanksgiving, and go deeper in prayer. (6) It is like a journal in style with space for writing. Larson has included inspiring quotes, Scripture to pray and thought provoking questions as writing prompts.

There are some aspects of the book I found surprising. There is a question, for example, that prompts us to remember a time when we felt we were our best self. We are also asked to dream of what we would like to be true of us at the end of life. The idea is to get us out of the current situation and gain an eternal perspective. Remembering and dreaming become spiritual practices in the journey of healing. I really appreciate her distinction between holy lament and self-pity. That insight is particularly freeing.

There is some repetition to the questions and journal prompts. The idea is that we would heal in layers, going deeper in each cycle of questions. The repetitive practice also helps us retrain our brain to God's truth, establishing new thinking patterns.

This journal was made to go along with Larson's book, Strong in Battle, but I found this book works well on its own. One does not have to buy that one to gain a great deal from this one. If you are looking for a guided journal to help you heal as you go through difficulties, this is a good one.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Susie Larson (www.susielarson.com) is a national speaker, bestselling author, and the host of the daily talk show Susie Larson Live heard on the Faith Radio Network with over 3.5 million downloads. Susie has written 19 books and many articles. She's been a guest on Focus on the Family, the Life Today show, and Family Life Today, as well as many other media outlets. Susie's passion is to see people everywhere awakened to the value of their soul, the depth of God's love, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus. Photo Credit: © Jenny Bedard

Bethany House Publishers, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)